Licensed games have a reputation for being rush-jobs that only a fan of the original property could like. Ben 10: Omniverse from Viscious Cycle and D3 Publisher does not break from that mold, but it still ends up being pretty fun regardless. Omniverse faithfully adapts the fourth and latest Ben 10 animated TV series in videogame form, featuring numerous transformations for the lead character and actual voice talent from the series. More importantly, it packs pretty good 2-player local co-op.

I've scoured the internets for the biggest, the best, and the most fantastic co-op news of the day. Unfortunately, it’s a major holiday in the USA so news is sparse. I did manage to find something deep behind the waste bins of the web; a new video for the upcoming 2 player local co-op title Ben 10: Omniverse. Please feel free to remove the crusted food and enjoy.

The long-running Ben 10 franchose is back with an all new series this fall. Cartoon Network's shape-shifting, super-cool teen is headed to your TV in Ben 10: Omniverse. It's pretty much a requirement for these shows to have a video game tie in these days, and Ben 10: Omniverse is no exception to this rule. Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, and the upcoming WiiU will all get versions of the new game.

Hot on the heels of our latest Co-Op Casual Friday, Amazon is running an impressive deal on Ben 10 Alien Force. Regular price is $39.99 but you can snag it today for just $14.98. That's a pretty good savings on a solid, kid-friendly co-op game. It'd be perfect for any younger gamers you know who enjoy aliens, cartoons, and high tech watches. (Probably older gamers like those things too.) Don't forget that your purchase helps support Co-Optimus.com!

If you've been around any young kids, boys especially, you have probably heard of Ben 10. First a Cartoon Network show, the series has exploded in popularity and has taken over toy store shelves everywhere. Unsurprisingly, Ben 10 has made appearances in the video game arena as well. First was Ben 10: Protector of Earth, and more recently, Ben 10: Alien Force. Both of these games feature two player co-op, but are they any good?
If you look at the Co-Optimus home page, you'll see a list of top games for each system down the right hand side. Joining powerhouses like Left 4 Dead and Castle Crashers is Ben 10: Protector of Earth. Surprising, isn't it? You wouldn't expect a cartoon tie-in to be one of the better co-op experiences on any system, even the Wii. This high rating is likely due to the fact that the game is fairly old school, similar to classic arcade brawlers, and it has some wild character designs that are quite fun.
In case you aren't a Cartoon Network junkie, Ben 10 is about a young boy, Ben Tennyson, who discovers the Omnitrix, a sort of cosmic watch. The Omnitrix allows Ben to take the form of ten different alien creatures. This translates very well into a video game. In Ben 10: Protector of Earth, Ben is limited to five forms. One is a flaming, human torch style alien. Another is a four armed, super strong, red humanoid. My personal favorite is Wildvine, an odd, malleable plant with all sorts of wacky powers. A bowling ball shaped alien and a blue, skate-footed speedster round out the mix. Each alien has upgradeable powers, allowing for some visually interesting attacks and even helping to solve the game's light puzzle elements.

Earlier this week, you got a taste for classic co-op in Broodax's column, featuring ToeJam and Earl. I felt it would be a good idea then, to discuss co-op games I played this week in my column. As it turns out, I played one classic co-op game, one that will be a classic, and one that isn't a classic at all, but was a decent way to spend an hour or two. I'll leave it you to decide which was which from this list: Diablo II, Lego Indiana Jones, and Ben 10.